Study: Cognitive deficits after COVID-19 equivalent to 20 years of aging
Editor's Note This study from the UK finds that cognitive impairment as a result of severe COVID-19 is similar to that sustained between 50 and 70 years of age. The researchers analyzed data from 46 patients who received in-hospital care on a ward or in the ICU; 16 patients were…
The Joint Commission, Kaiser Permanente accepting applications for healthcare equity award
Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced May 3 that applications are now being accepted for the second annual Bernard J. Tyson National Award for Excellence in Pursuit of Healthcare Equity. This award, created by The Joint Commission and Kaiser Permanente, recognizes advancements in reducing healthcare disparities in the name of…
FDA issues Class 1 recall of COVID-19 rapid test
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on March 28 a Class 1 recall of the Point of Care Celltrion DiaTrust COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test “because it may have been distributed to unauthorized laboratories,” the American Hospital Association (AHA) May 2 reports. A Class 1 recall is “the…
CDC: Comparison of COVID-19 home antigen test with RT-PCR, viral culture
Editor's Note This study, led by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), finds that symptomatic individuals with an initial negative home antigen test should test again 1 to 2 days later because test sensitivity peaks several days after COVID-19 onset. In 225 adults and children with…
ACS: May is STOP THE BLEED month, special commemoration May 19
Editor's Note In a May 2 news release, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) announced that to raise awareness on how to learn skills to stop serious bleeding, May 19 will observe the fifth annual national STOP THE BLEED day, which falls during the broader observance of national STOP THE…
Study: COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness in children varies by age, variant
Editor's Note According to a multi-institutional study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, titled “Effectiveness of 2-Dose BNT162b2 (Pfizer BioNTech) mRNA Vaccine in Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Children Aged 5–11 Years and Adolescents Aged 12–15 Years” and published on March 18, two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine…
Happy National Nurses Month
Editor's Note In 2020, the American Nurses Association expanded National Nurses Week to National Nurses Month to increase opportunities to elevate and celebrate nursing. National Nurses Week begins on May 6 and ends on May 12, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. The theme this year is “Nurses Make a Difference.” The American…
African Americans views on COVID-19 testing, contact tracing
Editor's Note This study from Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, finds that COVID-19 testing and contact tracing are beneficial among African Americans, but mistrust, COVID-19 stigma, location, and perceived costs are major barriers. Of 62 study participants, the majority (69.4%) were female, had never been tested (62.9%), and had an…
Joint Commission approves COVID-19 vaccination standard for HCWs
Editor's Note In response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) interim final rule regarding COVID-19 vaccinations for healthcare workers (HCWs), The Joint Commission has approved a new Infection Prevention and Control (IC) Standard IC.02.04.02 and new elements of performance, the regulator announced on April 27. The new…
FDA alerts healthcare providers of airway device potential risk
Editor's Note In a letter to healthcare providers published on April 27, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alerted it is evaluating the potential risk of airway obstruction when using silicone-based electromyogram (EMG) endotracheal tubes (Medtronic NIM Standard Reinforced EMG Endotracheal Tube and Medtronic NIM Contact Reinforced EMG Endotracheal…